You would be okay driving it until your next scheduled oil change. Oils with a little different viscosity mix fine. Suppose it takes 5 qts total and one was 20W50, then you now effectively have 8W26. /QUOTE]
Only if he turns left twice in a row (counter clockwise).We need an update. I predict OP vehicle burst into flames.
That is how oil works. Unless there is an extreme viscosity difference that causes the thicker oil to pool low enough in the pan that it never mixes in (we're not talking about even as thin as gear oil then), it mixes in and does directly change the viscosity by the amount/ratio of each.I'm pretty sure that's not how oil works. If you mix 4 qt of 0w-20 and 1 qt of 20w-50... you still have 4 qt of 0w-20 and 1 qt of 20w-50 in your oil pan.
Several motorcycles use 20/50.I haven't seen a manufacturer allow 20W-50 for any gasoline engine since the 1990s or 1980s, and the minimum temperature for it ranged from 0-32F. So don't use it below freezing or if you hear knocking at start-up.
I thought the thicker oils came from a more mature tree than the thinner oils. The problem is when the oil is refined from the younger saplings it can also get little bits of bark in the mix, but it's fresher bark...the older trees have a more crumbly bark and this is why it's more important to change your oil filter with higher viscosity oils than with lower viscosity oils...so you can catch that bark. IT WILL DO DAMAGE TO YOUR ENGINE.That is how oil works. Unless there is an extreme viscosity difference that causes the thicker oil to pool low enough in the pan that it never mixes in (we're not talking about even as thin as gear oil then), it mixes in and does directly change the viscosity by the amount/ratio of each.
There are some naysayers who will tell you vague things about maybe you don't get maximum benefit because they have different additive packages, but that come down to which two you use, and mixing might even be better than the additive package in the first one added. In short if you mix poor quality oil with good oil, you reduce the overall oil quality, or vice versa.
Then there are some who say it's not a guaranteed (lower) winter grade if mixed. This is true but this is only because winter grades are fixed "up to" numbers, artificially rounded off to 5-10 digit increments for human comprehension. Similarly if you start with a higher # and mix in a lower #, the respective/effective winter grade goes down proportionately, just as accurate math instead of 5 digit rounded off increments.
It'll be fine. Don't even worry about it.
My car is $285 to get changed at the dealership, which is annoying. But they clean and vacuum it too! /sarcasm I may do it at home, but then have to get the computer reset so I don't have a light on the dash.
Is there not a button combination for this? I was under the impression with most vehicles it was holding down the trip button while you turn the key, or similar.